بِروحيَ مَن قَد حَلَّ في القَلب ساكِناً

بِروحيَ مَن قَد حَلَّ في القَلب ساكِناً

فَحرّك ما في مُهجَتي كانَ ساكِنا

فَحرّك ما في مُهجَتي كانَ ساكِنا

My soul be ransom for one who has come to dwell within my heart,

My soul be ransom for him who has made his home in my heart,

and stirred what had lain still in my heart’s core.

And stirred what had lain still within my soul.

فَوا عَجَباً مِن بَعدما كُنت آمناً

فَوا عَجَباً مِن بَعدما كُنت آمناً

فتنت بِمَن فاقَ البُدور محاسِنا

فتنت بِمَن فاقَ البُدور محاسِنا

Oh, what a wonder—after I had felt secure,

Oh, how wondrous—after I had been safe,

I was bewitched by one whose charms outshone the full moons.

I was bewitched by one who surpassed the full moons in beauty.

جَمال مُحيّاه وَكَم مِن فَتىً فتن

جَمال مُحيّاه وَكَم مِن فَتىً فتن

فَهَل مدهشي برق مِن الثَغر شِمتُهُ

فَهَل مدهشي برق مِن الثَغر شِمتُهُ

The beauty of his countenance—how many a youth it has enthralled!

The beauty of his face—and how many a youth it has bewitched!

Was what dazzled me a flash from his teeth that I glimpsed?

Is what dazzles me a flash of lightning I glimpsed from his mouth,

أَم القدُّ أَم مِسكيُّ خالٍ شَممتُهُ

أَم القدُّ أَم مِسكيُّ خالٍ شَممتُهُ

لَهُ اللَه مِن غُصن لصَدري ضَممتُهُ

لَهُ اللَه مِن غُصن لصَدري ضَممتُهُ

Or was it his figure—or a musk-scented beauty mark whose fragrance I breathed?

Or his figure, or a musky beauty mark I smelled?

God preserve him—what a slender bough I clasped to my breast!

God bless him—what a branch I clasped to my breast!

وَقَبَّلت فاه صحت حينَ لَثَمتُهُ

وَقَبَّلت فاه صحت حينَ لَثَمتُهُ

فَدَيتك يا خَير المِلاح وَفى وَفَن

فَدَيتك يا خَير المِلاح وَفى وَفَن

I kissed his mouth, and cried out as I pressed my lips to it.

And I kissed his mouth; when I kissed him, I cried:

I would give myself for you, fairest of beauties, though frailty dwells in me.

'I would ransom you, O finest of the fair in fidelity and art!'

أَفدني أَأَرض دار أُنسك أَم سَماً

أَفدني أَأَرض دار أُنسك أَم سَماً

وَهَل مسك خال ختم كَأسك أَم لمى

وَهَل مسك خال ختم كَأسك أَم لمى

Tell me: is the abode of your companionship earth, or heaven?

Tell me: is the abode of your companionship earth or heaven?

Is a beauty mark’s musk the seal upon your cup, or the dusky hue of lips?

And did a beauty mark's musk seal your cup, or the dark hue of lips?

فَسُبحان مَن أَولاك لُطفاً مُتمّماً

فَسُبحان مَن أَولاك لُطفاً مُتمّماً

تَفوق ملاحَ الحُسن ثَغراً وَمَبسما

تَفوق ملاحَ الحُسن ثَغراً وَمَبسما

Glory be to Him who bestowed upon you such consummate grace:

Glory be to Him who bestowed on you consummate grace!

you surpass beauty’s fair ones in mouth and smile.

You surpass beauty's fairest in mouth and smile.

إِذا لَم تَكُن أَحلى المِلاح فَماً فَمَن

إِذا لَم تَكُن أَحلى المِلاح فَماً فَمَن

If you are not the sweetest-mouthed of all beauties, then who is?

If you are not the sweetest-mouthed of the fair, then who is?